Hat-pin guard.



L. A. McLAIN.

HAT PIN GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14, 1913.

1,083,333, Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

CULUMBIA FLANOGRAPH 110., WASHINGTON. D, C.

LAURA A. MCLAIN, 0F NEWARK, oHIo.

HAT-PIN GUARI'J'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. e, 1914.

Application filed April 14, 1913. Serial No. 761,015.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LAURA A. MOLAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Licking and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hat-Pin Guards, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improve ments' in hat pin guards, and is designed for use with hat pins on ladies hats, to act as a guard or shield for the point of the pin.

The primary 'object of the invention is the provision of a useful and ornamental device which may be slipped over the pointed end of a pin that is projected through the hat to prevent contact of said point with any object.

The invention consists in certain novel features and combinations and arrangements in the construction of the hat pin guard as will be hereinafter disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a view showing the pin guards attached to the crown of a hat, one of the guards being in use and the other out of commission. Fig. 2 shows the interior of the hat guard, with the guard in position attached to the pin. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of Fig. 3 at line lt.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention I have illustrated the guard or shield as an open, hollow, receptacle 1, in the form or shape of a blooming flower, but it will of course be understood that many other forms or configurations may be adopted and yet preserve the utilitarian and ornamental properties of the device.

The guard is suspended from a hat 2 (Fig. 1) by means of a chain 3 and the ornamental plate or panel a. In Fig. 1 I have illustrated two guards suspended from the plate, one of the guards in position of use and the other guard hanging loosely as when out of commission. The plate may be secured to the hat crown in any one of various ways, as by stick pins, clamps, etc., but in Fig. 1 I employ the pair of pins 5, 5 passed through the hat crown and flattened out on the interior, after the manner of paper fasteners of a well known type. Thus it will be observed that the guard is to be suspended by chain. or otherwise. from any desirable portion of the hat, and will, of course be located at the side of the hat through which the point of the hat pin is to project.

At the point of the flower or receptacle 1 where I, the stem would ordinarily occur, I provide a funnel shaped or tapering mouth 7 with flaring walls, which merge into a conical, diminishing, tube 8 which recedes within the receptacle 1 and is formed with an open inner end. The walls of this fun nel or conical tube 8 are formed with diametrical openings, and from at least one of these openings a flaring open end cup 9 projects. The funnel 8 with its flaring mouth 7 are for the reception and guidance of the pointed pin 10, and the flaring cup 9 and holes in the tube 8 are for the accommodatron of a spring tongue 11. This tongue 11 is slotted at 12 and is an integral portion of the leaf spring 13 which is secured as by rivets 14 to the receptacle or large cup 1. The resiliency of the spring 13 tends to draw the tongue 11 upwardly in Fig. 3 and to withdraw the end of the tongue from the cup 9. It is due to the resiliency of the spring and its tendency to withdraw from the cup 9 that the pin 10 is held in the guard.

In actual use, to fasten the hat to the hair of the wearer, the hat being in place, the pin is passed through the hat as usual, and the guard 1 is rasped in the other hand. The spring 13, wien in normal position, has drawn the lower end of the tongue 11 upwardly so that the slot 12 does not register, or is out of line with the opening through the tube 8. To bring the slot into alinement the finger is pressed on the spring 13 at the same time the flaring mouth 7 of the receptacle 1 is slipped over the end of the pin, and when so alined, the pin may be passed through the slot 12.and so through the open end of the tube 8. l/Vhen pressure is released from the spring 13 its resiliency pulls the tongue 11 upwardly and the lower end wall of the slot 12 engages the pin 10 to hold it. This may be accomplished by friction, but if desired, the pin may be provided with an annular groove 15 of very shallow depth, in which the end wall of the slot engages. In this manner the hat pin is held firmly in the guard, and the point is shielded; To release the pin, the spring 13 is pushed inwardly and the pin withdrawn. The tube 8 also performs the function, by its frictional engagement, of holding thepin stable, and assists in securing the receptacle 011 the pin.

It will be evident that I have provided a device which fulfils the purposes set forth as the object of my invention, but while 'I have illustrated only one adaptation of my invention, it will of course be understood that changes may be made within the scope of my claim without departing from the spirit of my invention, such for instance, changes in the size and shape of the ornamental features, and other minor details of construction.

mazes Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is v A hat pin guard comprising a hollow receptacle formed with a flaring mouth and a conical tubular portion extending inwardly therefrom, a flaring cup extended transversely from the tubular portion and alined with diametrical openings in the tubular portion, and a spring secured to the receptacle having a slotted tongue passed through said flaring cup and openings, as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LAURA A. MOLAIN.

WVitnesses:

CATHERINE MILLER, J. H. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. (1." 

